So....It has been to long!

I know I have been missing in action lately....ok for 8 months. Yet here I am with my latest frugal find. Recently I was informed about this great site woot.com (LOVE IT)!!! This website offers one item a day at a discount price. The item changes daily offering all types of items. I have been checking it out daily for some early Christmas shopping. They also have a kids woot & shirt woot I love as well. T-shirts are only $10 with free shipping....great gift price for Christmas! Check out woot.com and let me know what you think!!!

Must Have, Can't Live Without Wallet

I am very picky when it comes to my wallet. I would say most people are, I know my husband and my sister are... so I assume most people are as well. Anyway, since starting our Dave Ramsey FPU class we have been using his cash paying system with the envelopes he supplies in his kit. I find the system wonderful. It has really helped me keep us in a budget when shopping for groceries, cleaning supplies, etc. But I HATE those paper envelopes, they just don't work for me. It takes to long to get your cash out or flip to the envelope I needed. Also, I still carried my separate wallet for insurance card, license, sam's card, etc. So I spent about two hours one night searching the web for a wallet. I searched etsy.com where I found cute ones Moms had made, but it wasn't for me. And then I ran across www.savvy-cents.com, she is a Mom just like us in Greenville, SC that was having the same issues as I and decided to design a wallet. So of course I ordered one (in red) and it came in last week. I am in love!!! It is stylish, simple, and helps me keep things very organized! If you use Dave Ramsey's cash system or even your own cash system I would order myself one today. The wallet is $24.99+tax&shipping....but it is worth every penny!

Few of my Fav Vain Items

I am sure I am not alone when I say I have a few vain items I can't live without. I know I could but I love them!!! And I think I need them!!! I am about to share my secrets, you may laugh or you may be the one that says "Hey, I want to try that too!"

My #1 item I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! I found my new best secret the week Hart was born. After a 11:00 pm NICU feeding Jonathan and I headed to Wal-Mart for pantyhose for my baby shower. (I was going to wear pantyhose to hide my baby weight from giving birth just 7 days before) Anyway, while at Wal-Mart I peeked in to take a look at their shapewear....and there she was my little Sweet Nothings. I do not wear a dress without her! I have two different styles; one is a boy short for shorter dresses and I have a longer style that comes just above my knee. I highly recommend them over Spanx. For around the same price of Spanx you can pick yourself up about 4-7 pairs. Prices start at about $8+. While around Wal-Mart this weekend stop in and pull, tug, etc. check them out. Sweet Nothings by Maidenform

I love Clairol Perfect 10 hair color. Once, again after having Hart I was looking for ways to save money on myself so I can spend more on him. As Moms we are all guilty of this. So I decided to try coloring my hair at home. For those who don't know I must color my hair b/c I have been turning gray since I was 16! That is right...my sister who is 2 years older than me does not have the 1st gray hair but I do. This product caught my eye 1st b/c the color was so close to my natural hair color and it only takes 10 mins. Also, a small bonus it smells really nice to. To give you a color idea I use 6.5A Lightest Cool Brown. Cost is around $14.99 but I try to watch CVS and pick it up when they have it on sale for $9.99.

Crest Whitestrips Premium or Advanced Seal a box of these can last me almost 6 mths. I had been using Crest Whitestrips for about a year when I asked my dentist what he recommended to whiten teeth. And guess what he recommended...Crest Whitestrips. I use them once maybe twice a week only 1 time during the day every few weeks as I feel I need to. I do not use them more than that, they can make my teeth very sensitive. The only time I didn't use them was while I was expecting, he recommended that I didn't. The cost usually $34.99+ but always check the newspaper for a coupon and get them then.

I have very dry skin and I can't stand for my skin to feel tight and dry. For about two years I have been using Clinque Supermoisture makeup w/ dramatically different moisturizing lotion for very dry skin and I have never been happier. If you have the same problem I would stop by and see if you Clinque crew would give you a sample. I also believe Clinque at our Belk in Gainesville has a free gift going right now. Can't really give you a price point b/c I pick mine up sometimes at Belk or at the outlet if they have my color.

My little helper for my flat fine hair was found at my favorite CVS! Christophe Volume Mousse, I add this to my hair at the roots right before I blow dry and can really tell a big difference. It retails for $8.99 but this week it is on sale for $4.99. I will be stocking up. Great week to try this out and if you don't like it you only lost $5 bucks and pass it on to a friend to see if they like it. But trust me I believe you will LOVE IT!

Shhhh, here I go again telling about my under garments. For years I have fallen in love with Hanes No Show Panties which once again I can only find the silky ones at Wal-Mart. They don't lie they really are the only no show panties I have found out there. I gave up wearing "strings" as my Mama called them after I was informed how unhealthy they really are for you. They must be very popular b/c every time I find them in human colors...black, tan, white I have to search for my size in my favorite style. I can't stand pink, purple, goofy color panties. Ladies unless you are under 10 don't wear these. No one likes to see someone bend over flashing hot pink panties, we do really look silly. But that is just my opinion. Retail $8.50 for 3 pairs

My 2009-2010 Winter fashion must have George Tights. Guess where I can only find them...Wal-Mart. Love these tights they are thick, warm, and even have control top! They also hold up very well during many washes which is hard to find. They retail for $5.99. Be a rebel and pick up some fun ones as well as your basic brown and black.

Now that we are slimmed, with great hair, makeup, and smile grab yourself my favorite coffee of all time!!! Dunkin Donuts Original Blend once you join us you will never turn back. My local Sam's Club has a large bag for only $16.99. Grab a cup and enjoy being a Fabulously Frugal Mom!

How daily decisions impact our wallets more than I thought...

Jonathan and I had our 1st Dave Ramsey FPU class this past sunday. If you don't know much about Dave Ramsey he is an awesome speaker and gives out common sense advice about working a budget and saving money for your future. Which I think we all could take his advice looking at our current economy and financial state!

Ok, back to our class. There was one chart that really stuck out to me. How our "Daily decisions can make a Huge impact!" Here are few examples.

Say you smoke a pack a day, or have some other habit like candy break, coke break, ice cream break, etc. And it cost you $3 a day...that is $90 a month/$1,080 a year. Wow! Think about what you could do with that money if you just put that is savings everyday!!!

Ok I know what you are thinking. I thought the same thing...I don't really have a habit of spending $3 a day on cigs or snacks. But do you enjoy those cool $5 cups of gourmet coffee? Lets use that in the same example: $5 a day for your fancy coffee...that is $150 a month/$1,800 a year. Even bigger WOW!!!

Now this is the example that really hit home with me and my husband. If your like us you have been known to eat out for lunch. We have cut back this year, but we have done this. An avg. lunch runs you $8 and the avg. work week is 5 days that is $40 a week....$160 a month/$1,920 a year. Yikes!

So here is my question. Lets take the lunch example and say you take your lunch everyday for 60 years. Why 60 years because that is the example Dave uses in his chart, you save from age 16-76. Guess how much you could save.....
$115,200 I think I could handle that to take a nice little vacation!
And here is Dave's example: Take that $160 a month and invest it at 12% from age 16-76. Guess what that will get you.....
$20,663,319 Forget the vacation, I am going to buy a few vacation homes!

Take a few mins and take this in. I vote we all pack our lunch, find a bench or nice spot to meet with friends and enjoy our savings and dream together where we are going to buy our future vacation homes!

For more wonderful info on Dave Ramsey as well as where you can find a class in your neighborhood go to http://www.daveramsey.com/.

Crazy Couponing

Everyone has been asking about my coupon class from Saturday so I thought I would share a few tips and ideas that I found useful. First thing I would like to share is that these tips really do work! I went shopping at Publix Sat. night and bought $98 in groceries and only paid $53 that is a savings of $43 dollars. Isn't that great? Here are a few of the tips.

*You must change you way of shopping. If you are like me you shop for what you need when you need it. Ex. we are out of paper towels we buy paper towels. Well that is all WRONG!!! You shop for what is on sale and use your coupon for that item on sale. Ex. Publix has Progressive Soup on sale for BOGO $2.29 and I have two coupons for 0.50 off so I pay $1.29 for two cans which equals 0.65 each. Bottom line I saved a total of $1.64 off each can. Wow!

*For the avg family of 4 they recommended cutting two papers of coupons on Sunday. They also recommended using the AJC for this. Also, clip every coupon! You may in the end get some of the items you never would of used for free and you can donate them.

*Going back to stopping the shopping for only the items you need. They taught us to purchase and build a stash with the items on sale. In the south coupons cycle around about every 6 wks so about the time you need to rebuild your stash you will have a coupon.

*Everyone has their favorite stores to shop, mine in the past has been Kroger but I now know to shop Publix BOGO sale! Publix BOGO + coupon = HUGE SAVINGS! Also, I love CVS and their ECB (extra care bucks). The key to using these is multiple transactions. Use your ECB for other purchases during the same trip.

*We also learned to us a coupon spreadsheet. You can make your own and I highly recommend it. I used mine for my grocery list and stuck to it. Make one column for the items, retail $, sale $, store Q (coupon), MFR Q, & final value. Do the math before you shop to see what you are really saving.

I have found it to be useful to attach my store Coupon spreadsheet with my coupons and sale paper. That way I have everything together.

*They also touched on organizing you coupons. You can use a file system, shoebox, bag, or notebook with baseball card holders. Also, divide them any way you prefer by type, letter, etc. What ever works for you! I prefer the notebook with card holders. I like seeing the coupons I have out in the open.

This class was awesome and the ladies were awesome as well. They have really made this their ministry to teach and touch other women through their coupon class. I am going to see if we can have the ladies come to my home church of Talmo Baptist and teach a class. Please let me know if you would be interested in attending this class.

Excitement over COUPONS!!

For over a little more than 6 months now I have become excited and crazy over coupons! I must admit, I am not the best at shopping and always getting the best bargain...but I do try really hard!!! I went from using just my small file folder to the crazy notebook with baseball card holders. I know you look goofy shopping with this thing, but if goofy saves $8+ bucks I will shop with goofy any day.

I am still amazed by these women that go grocery shopping and buy $90 worth of goodies and only pay $6. HOW DO THEY DO THIS??? I must know the secret!!! Well guess what ladies, my prayer has been answered. Last week my lovely sister Amanda emailed me and invited me to a coupon class at a local church. I of course am all over attending this event, FREE tips, FREE childcare, and best of all we learn how to get more for less or FREE! I can't wait, I am counting down the days. This weekend is my shopping weekend for all the home basics. My plan is to wait until after the class saturday afternoon and put myself to a challenge to see how much I can save. Don't worry I will be letting ya'll know how I do.

I am so excited about this new year ahead for my family! Between starting our Dave Ramsey's FPU class next sunday, learning how to save more $$$ with coupons, setting a budget and sticking to it I am finally seeing financial freedom in our future. I can't wait! Please continue to keep my family in your prayers through this new journey.

FREE 10 from elf

Big Coupon Weekend!

This Sunday, 1/3 you should have 5 coupon inserts!!
(3) SmartSource
(2) Red Plum

For more info go to one of my favorite saving spots www.southernsavers.com. I recommend adding this one to your favorites if it isn't already and check it often. They are always current and have great ideas for getting the most for your $$$.

Lovin' Redbox

If your like me you have seen the boxes around town everywhere. At your local Kroger, Walgreens, etc. I even noticed people at them but never paid them much mind. Until one day at the Walgreens in Commerce I just stepped up to check it out. Can this be for real, renting New Releases for only a $1 a day? Where have I been, why hasn't anyone told about this? So I decided to rent a movie for my girlfriend's girl night. And now I am in love!!!

All you do is provide them with your email address, select your rental, swipe your debit card and go. You pay a dollar a day and return it to any redbox location. You can even reserve a DVD online and pick it up at your local redbox. (I haven't actually tried this so I would be interested to hear how it worked out.)

I really like this concept b/c I really have to LOVE LOVE LOVE a movie to buy it! So this way if I don't care for it I am only out a buck. Here is one of New Releases redbox if offering, I can't wait to see it. Checkout redbox.com for more rentals and additional info.

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it is 2010? In the past I really haven't made any New Year's Resolutions...but this year I have! I like to call them my goals for 2010. To hold me to them I am going to share them with all of you!

• Keep Faith, Family, and Friends in that order. If I keep my Faith 1st everything else will fall into place.

• Save, Save, Save...only buy needs not wants. I can be really bad at this, for example this morning I have already been look online at makeup. I mean really it is 7:35am what am I thinking? But don't worry I didn't order anything!

• Spend more quality time with my family. Work on building great memories not just living in the moment!

• Give more! I am really excited about this one!!! I want to give more of myself and my time. There are so many opportunities out there for volunteering or just helping a neighbor out. We all should take a little of our time to help out and teach our kids that we expect them to do the same.

• Last but not least...MY FABULOUSLY FRUGAL MOMS BLOG!!! I am really excited about what we can do with this outlet. I want this to be a place we all can meet and give each other tips on saving money, time, staying organized, and of course being fabulous while doing it all.

Lets let the fun begin!!!